Guide to programs for Seniors

The National Council on Aging has created a wonderful new website called BenefitsCheckUp to help people identify government programs that can help pay for prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other benefits. The site has three fast, easy-to-use, confidential programs:

BenefitsCheckUpRx helps people with Medicare and other older adults learn about and enroll in government benefits, including the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and other federal, state and private programs that can save money on health care and prescription drugs. You can print out a personalized report that lists programs you may qualify for, telephone numbers, and directions on how to sign up for these programs.

BenefitsCheckUp finds programs that help with   • rent   • property taxes   • heating bills   • meals   • and other needs It includes over 1,300 programs, including those covering more than 1,550 prescription medications. You can print out a personalized report of programs and benefits for which you may qualify.

Medicare Card Finder is a fast and free service to help people with Medicare choose and enroll in the Medicare-approved drug discount card that will save the most money on prescription drugs. The goal is to help you make a decision and sign up for the card you want in just a few minutes. To get started, you need to have basic information about your monthly income and a list of your prescriptions handy.

The programs are completely confidential. They do not require your name, address, phone number, or Social Security number. Congratulations to the National Council on Aging for creating this incredible resource!